Charge dismissed against bartender

By Lori EhdeCharges of selling alcohol to a minor have been dismissed against Eagles Club bartender Laura Hunter.Hunter was one of seven local bartenders charged with selling alcohol to minors after a December compliance check of area businesses.According to the complaint, Hunter failed to check the identification of a 20-year-old sting volunteer who bought a bottle of beer.But Hunter said that’s not what happened."I checked his I.D., but I got the year mixed up, and then I asked for the beer back," said Hunter, who decided to hire an attorney to contest the charges.After consulting with the volunteer, Deputy Ken Baker confirmed that Hunter did ask the minor to return the beer as he was leaving the Eagles.According to Assistant County Attorney Terry Vajgrt, this was good reason to dismiss the charges against Hunter."I felt under these circumstances, since she attempted to get it back, criminal prosecution wasn’t appropriate," Vajgrt said.Hunter is the third bartender to settle her case in Rock County District Court.In addition to Hunter, also charged were
Jonathon Nath at Casey's on East Main Street,
Roberta Miller at Citgo on North Highway 75,
Loretta Duffy at Luverne Lanes bowling alley,
Orvin Green at Magnolia Steak House,
Jesse Johnson at Sharkee’s,
Gregory Staeffler at the Green Lantern in Hardwick.They were charged with selling to a minor, a gross misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a $3,000 fine, a year in jail or both.Green, Miller, Duffy and Staeffler entered guilty pleas in plea arrangements through the County Attorney’s Office.In return, the state certified the charges as misdemeanors, as opposed to gross misdemeanors, as was originally charged.They were sentenced to fines and court fees of $463, with no probation or other conditions imposed.Nath and Johnson have have entered not-guilty pleas.Hunter said her attorney fees cost more than the fine would have, but she said it was worth it."I’ve never even had a speeding ticket on my record," she said Tuesday. "I wanted to make sure what actually happened was in the report. I just wanted the truth to be out there. I thought it was worth it."She admits she made a mistake in her math, but said, "You can bet I’m never going to make that mistake again!"BackgroundOn the night of Dec. 26, two 20-year-old men from Yankton and Dell Rapids, S.D., attempted purchases at all Rock County businesses with liquor licenses – 21 in all.The minors were volunteers from a regional anti-drug, alcohol and tobacco group.The non-compliant businesses may also face civil penalties as a result of the sting. Under Luverne City Code, the stores are subject to licensing penalties that can include imposition of civil fines and suspension or revocation of liquor licenses.In a 1999 compliance check, employees at both Citgo and Casey’s (this time on South Highway 75), sold to minors. The last check in Rock County was August 2002, at which time only two businesses, Ampride Pump ’N Pak and the Beaver Creek Golf Course, sold to minors.